In 1959 Kurt Schneider listed the ‘first rank features’ of shizophrenia. One of these symptoms, in the absense of organic disease, persistent affective disorder, or drug intoxiation, was sufficient for a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

They include:

• Audible thoughts

• Voices heard arguing

• Voices heard commenting on one’s actions

• The experience of influences playing on the body

• Thought withdrawal and other interferences with though

• Diffusion of thought

• Delusional perception

• Feelings, impulses and volitional acts experienced as the work or infulence of others